Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

Electric firms set to fight MEPs on toxic materials law

Laurence Frost

European Voice

4/18/01, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 6:43 AM CET

MANUFACTURERS of electronic and electrical equipment are fighting moves by MEPs to allow individual countries to go further than their EU partners in banning toxic and polluting materials from their goods.

The MEPs want to alter the legal basis of the proposed restriction of hazardous substances directive when it goes before the environment committee next week.

A majority of governments are understood to support their bid to change it from a harmonisation measure into environmental legislation setting minimum standards.

Electronics producer federation Orgalime is lobbying hard ahead of the vote. Producers already face a huge bill for recycling and collection and say the move could lead to the adoption of different standards in member states.

European Director of Electrolux Viktor Sundberg said: “We need to have the same legislation for everyone defining what materials we can and can’t use.”

There is speculation that EU governments may depart from the Commission line and back the amendment over fears that a ‘harmonising’ approach would restrict their room for manoeuvre in future health protection or environmental legislation.